Can a failed starter stall a car while driving it?

Question:
Car is a 99 Ford Escort. While driving the car up a hill it stalled like it was out of gas, which wasn't the case (car has about half a tank). When I tried to re-start the car, it whined; sounded like a stripped starter. Battery and alternator seem fine. The radio, headlights and dashboard are working fine. Because it stalled while driving, it seems like it might be a drive belt?? I'm at a loss and need to get back on the road soon as I'm about 900 miles from home... Thanks!

Answers:

steam coming from back of vehicle?

No, the starter will not cause a car to stall. When you say it "whined" do you mean it sounded like it was cranking with no resistance? I would bet the timing belt broke, that would cause the car to stall and when you crank the motor it spins faster because there are valves open which shouldn't be because the camshaft isn't turning due to the broken belt.

engine problems...?

If the starter had failed, the car would not start. It could be your alternator, this would be more apt to explain the car suddenly cutting out. Did you notice the lights dimming before the car stalled?

i hooked up an OBD II reader to my car but it won't read anything...what's the problem?


Any clues in indicator lights?

How long does it take for a car battery to drain?


Just an old sports car geek, Id look first at my alternator. Test its juice.

Stickshift won't move into gear when car is on?

Most likely a belt, but the starter could have stripped on the flywheel - have a look at the flywheel teeth and you might find broken ones... if you want to try starting it again, hit the starter a couple of good ones with a hammer first- that's been known to open stuck gears in a dying starter. Could be your distributor , happened to me once, same symptoms... check your rotor and change it (under $10), have the distributor changed out.

If a tie rod on your car needs to be replaced..?

when you tried to restart the vehicle, does the engine have a high pitch sound, and spinning over faster..If so broke timing belt, which could have bent valves in the cylinder head, or possibility of you have bottom end damage, and starter can not move the crankshaft, the starter will not be able to turn flywheel..The only way to be sure..remove the top timing belt cover and see if belt broken..if not, does the belt turn, if not, remove external drive belt and try and turn the crankshaft center bolt with hand wrench, or ratchet, if you can't ...botton end damage...but if all the pulley will move the possibility of teeth on flywheel stripped..

Wet weather problem Dodge truck?

Hi

Manual Fuel Pump?


The best reason could be the belt connecting the dynamo and the starter. Please try to start again, if you feel that the sound you feel is unusual or your engine is not getting the load, i mean you can feel that the engine is not winking where as the starter pulls it, its definitely the belt thats connecting the dyanamo and the starter. Moreover as you said the failed starter will not halt a car.
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